The secure and affordable provision of energy considering social and climate goals poses a major challenge as studies confirm that global energy consumption and the dependency on fossil fuels increase annually. This leads to unwanted global uncertainties, interdependencies and environmental impacts due to the limitedness and unevenly distributed fossil energy carriers, accompanied by carbon based emissions due to fossil fuel combustion. To ensure the viability of our energy system, we need to increase resilience of our energy services: the protection and preservation of energy and infrastructure dependent basic needs of living within an energy region despite an irreversible decline in fossil energy. For this purpose, a novel step-by-step resilience assessment (RERA) is introduced, aiming to operationalise and promote regional energy resilience. First, we examine sectors and energy services being affected by fossil energy constraints and their need for improvements (factual level assessment). Secondly, attitudes and risk sensitivity referring to energy crises are surveyed to reveal community awareness and the acceptance of needed improvement measures (value level assessment). Thirdly, both levels are compared to identify key aspects for planning a resilient energy system. Finally, policy implications on how to integrate resilience-thinking into development efforts of our energy system will be derived. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.